I have written about the courageous young man Yoni Ben Artzi several times, notably here, here and here.
What follows is a letter from Yoni on the approaching anniversary of one year since he was first jailed. The letter was forwarded by his parents.
Dear Friends,
Yoni was jailed on Aug. 8, 2002, for refusing to serve in the Israeli army and insisting on alternative civil service. Since then he was sentenced seven times (by disciplinary action) and spent over six months in Military Prison 4. In February 2003 he was brought before a Court-Martial, the first case ever for an Israeli pacifist. The process continues (while Yoni is held in a military camp in “open detention”), with the next session scheduled for July 29 (with testimonies by a General and a Colonel who were directly involved in his case).
In February 2003, six months after his first imprisonment, Yoni sent a message to all those who had supported him in this ordeal. Another six months have passed, and Yoni is approaching the 1-year-mark of his detention. The list of supporters has grown considerably, and we cannot answer individually every single message. We assure you, however, that we read attentively and thankfully all your messages and pass them on to Yoni.
We enclose below Yoni’s (“six-months”) message, unmodified.
Yours,
Ofra and Matania Ben-Artzi
Yoni’s Message:
Half a year has passed since I was first sent to prison because of my beliefs as a pacifist. Seven prison terms later, my commitment to the cause of peace remains unwavering and my resolve to continue this vital endeavor grows in me. With every day that passes, I gain new strength, which even those closest to me never thought I’d have.
During this trying time, I have been fortified by your words of encouragement. Each and every letter, postcard and email forged a unique and indelible contribution to my peaceful struggle. Your gestures of solidarity and concern helped nudge me forwards on this long, uphill journey.
My heartfelt thanks to all of you who have reached out to me; I will always remain profoundly grateful to you. Together with my fellow refusniks, we will one day prevail in offering a truly peaceful alternative to Israeli Militarism.
Yours,
Jonathan Ben-Artzi
